There are many reasons to pick up a Middle-Grade fantasy book, they are whimsical and wholesome and sure to carry you to a magical place. The best fantasy books for middle schoolers are listed below, filled with mystical lands, adventures, and magic that will delight your inner child.
#1 The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
About the Book
Title- The Hobbit
Author- J.R.R Tolkien
Publisher- Houghton Mifflin
Pages- 366
Goodreads Rating- 4.28
Hobbits are small and comfortable creatures. You will never see them venturing far away from their round, cozy homes. So it comes as a considerable surprise when on a fateful evening, Bilbo Baggins is whisked off to an adventure whose outcome will change the world’s fate.
Why do we recommend it?
Hobbits are the most delightful creation in fiction. Reading about Bilbo’s adventure into vast and mystical lands is always a beautiful experience. This book has everything from evil spiders to goblins and from shape-shifting humans to epic wars. It is one of the best fantasy books for middle schoolers. Simple writing also makes it easy for a middle grader to understand.
To buy/gift The Hobbit, click on the below link:
#2 Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
About the Book
Title- Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Author- Rick Riordan
Publisher- Disney Hyperion Fantasy
Pages- 377
Goodreads Rating- 4.3/5
Percy Jackson is a quiet and good kid. He doesn’t like to cause a lot of trouble at school. So he is in for a surprise when his algebra teacher turns into a monster and tries to kill him. From there, his mother takes him to Camp Half-Blood, where half-children of Greek Gods reside. Percy has to make his place in this new world and, at the same time, fight evil beyond his wildest imagination.
Why do we recommend it?
This is the first fantasy book I have read like this one. It perfectly combines mythology and fantasy. To add to it is the sarcastic humor of the author that shows through the character. It is a rich world with solid characters accessible to kids in middle grades.
To buy/gift Percy Jackson and the Olympians, click on the below link:
#3 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
About the Book
Title- Harry Potter
Author- J.K. Rowling
Publisher- Scholastic Inc.
Pages- 309
Goodreads Rating- 4.4/5
The troubled life of Harry Potter is turned upside down when a bushy man barges into his uncle’s house and tells him he is a wizard. His troubles change into making potions, flying brooms, and surviving in his first year at the magical school of Hogwarts.
Why do we recommend it?
This is also a classic for middle-grade fiction. There is nothing that hasn’t already been said about this series. If you need another push to read this perfect book yourself or your young ones, this is your sign. It is a glorious read about a magical adventure unlike any you will ever read.
To buy/gift Harry Potter, click on the below link:
#4 Snow and Rose by Emily Winfield Martin
About the Book
Title- Snow and Rose
Author- Emily Winfield Martin
Publisher- Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages- 213
Goodreads Rating- 4/5
Snow and Rose are two sisters who move into a cabin in the woods with their mother after their father’s disappearance. They find life hard, but nothing that hard work can’t solve. Until they start hearing voices from the woods and when they venture into it, nothing will ever be the same.
Why do we recommend it?
This book is everything autumnal packed into pages. It is absolutely whimsical and felt like a bit of a fantasy of their own. But, at the same time, it also is very creepy and keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end. Bonus points for the beautiful illustrations included in the book.
To buy/gift Snow and Rose, click on the below link:
#5 Lumberjanes by N.D. Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Waters
About the Book
Title- Lumberjanes
Author- N.D. Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Waters
Publisher- BOOM! Box
Pages- 128
Goodreads Rating- 3.9/5
We’ve all experienced summer camps in some ways, but things are different at Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s camp for hard-core lady types. Five best friends try to live their life to the fullest as things around them get darker and darker.
Why do we recommend it?
This graphic novel is absurd in the very best of ways. It has everything from magic to mythology and even eerie foxes. The art style, as well as the writing, is pretty simple. This book will have you giggling under the bed covers at night. It is one of the best fantasy books for middle schoolers.
To buy/gift Lumberjanes, click on the below link:
#6 The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Andersen
About the Book
Title- The Girl Who Speaks Bear
Author- Sophie Andersen
Publisher- Usborne Publishing
Pages- 416
Goodreads Rating- 4.2/5
Yanka has always felt out of place from others. She is bigger and stronger, which is fine but what is not acceptable is that one day she starts growing bear legs. She feels it connects back to the fact that she was found in the bear cave as a baby. So she goes on a quest to find the truth about herself.
Why do we recommend it?
If you ever wanted Russian folktales in the form of Middle-Grade fantasy, this is the book for you. The descriptions in this book are beautiful and will transfer you to snow-covered woods. It is whimsical and perfect for the colder months.
To buy/gift The Girl Who Speaks Bear, click on the below link:
#7 The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel
About the Book
Title- The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane
Author-Julia Nobel
Publisher- Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Pages- 320
Goodreads Rating- 3.9/5
Emmy’s father has disappeared, and her mother is too busy, so she is shipped off to a boarding school in England, Wellsworth. Wellsworth is all looming corridors and ancient buildings, but something is not right here. Emmy and her newfound friends delve deep into the mysteries of the place and discover something sinister.
Why do we recommend it?
Old Gothic buildings found family and secret societies; things cannot get better than this. This is a wholesome book with a consuming storyline that will have you rushing headlong toward the end of the book. It is one of the best fantasy books for middle schoolers.
To buy/gift The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, click on the below link:
#8 A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett
About the Book
Title- A Series of Unfortunate Events
Author- Lemony Snickett
Publisher- Scholastic Inc
Pages- 176
Goodreads Rating- 4/5
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny live carefree lives with their loving and wealthy parents until they are killed in a fire. Then, they have to live with a distant relative they have never seen or met until they are of age. The children will suffer misfortunes and encounter several characters before (and if) they have a happy ending.
Why do we recommend it?
The book is dreary and dark, but it has its own charm. The wide range of villainous characters makes this an enjoyable read. I also feel that this book could have been funny if the readers were not feeling too bad for the characters. It is well written, even though it is intended for a younger audience. It is one of the best fantasy books for middle schoolers.
To buy/gift A Series of Unfortunate Events, click on the below link:
#9 The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
About the Book
Title- The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Author- Kelly Barnhill
Publisher- Algonquin Young Readers
Pages- 388
Goodreads Rating- 4.1/5
Every year, a baby is sacrificed to the forest witch, but this witch is actually very gentle. When this witch accidentally feeds the baby magical moonlight, she has to bury the magic deep inside to protect her. She names it Luna. At 13, Luna’s magic overflows but this time, she has to save herself and the witch on her own.
Why do we recommend it?
This feels like a wholesome animated movie running through your mind. It puts a lot of adult fantasy world-building to shame. It is a rich and beautiful story of love and gentleness that everyone should read.
To buy/gift The Girl Who Drank the Moon, click on the below link:
#10 Greenglass House by Kate Millford, Jamie Zollars
About the Book
Title- Greenglass House
Author- Kate Millford, Jamie Zollars
Publisher- Clarion Books
Pages- 376
Goodreads Rating- 4.1/5
Young Milo is tired of running his parent’s 200-year-old inn and looking forward to this Christmas when everything will be quiet. But on Christmas, a horde of shady characters arrive on the inn’s doorsteps. It is up to Milo and his best friend to find out about these mysterious characters before it is too late.
Why do we recommend it?
If Charles Dickens wrote Middle Grade, then this would be the result. This book is full of shady characters doing shady things. It is full of mystery and charm and perfect for a lazy winter evening.
To buy/gift Greenglass House, click on the below link:
So grab a snack, make a beverage of your choice and dig into one of these titles. Happy Reading!
To conclude, here are the 10 best fantasy books for middle graders you must have on your wishlist.
| 1. | The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien | Buy Now |
| 2. | Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan | Buy Now |
| 3. | Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling | Buy Now |
| 4. | Snow and Rose by Emily Winfield Martin | Buy Now |
| 5. | Lumberjanes by N.D. Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Waters | Buy Now |
| 6. | The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Andersen | Buy Now |
| 7. | The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel | Buy Now |
| 8. | A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett | Buy Now |
| 9. | The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill | Buy Now |
| 10. | Greenglass House by Kate Millford | Buy Now |
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Disclosure: All our recommendations are honest. Also, some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we recommend.
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